Page 2 of Shadowing Bright
“He says it isn’t.”Amy shrugged.“Nothing gets serious until it’s safe.”
“Okay.Call me if you ever need backup.I know your people are a little touchy.”
“That is putting it mildly.”Amy smiled as she flicked through the dresses.
“Are you going to the Night Faire any time soon?”
“I went last week.Why?”
“Oh, never mind.”Vaia waved it off.
“No, if you want to go, we can totally go.It would be nice to go with folks I don’t consider targets.”
Vaia paused and laughed.“Oh.No target here.I just hate going alone, and they have asked me to dance for a birthday party they are having there, and I need a bodyguard.”
Amy grinned.“In that case.Sure.”
“Cool.There is a new outfit in it for you, and if you are willing, I will pay for tacos and go-karts before we go.”
“Wait.Whose birthday is this?”
“Mine.I dance at the faire every year on my birthday.I get a bit of a power bump for public performances, and they get a hike in operating costs.It’s a pretty popular draw.”Vaia was blushing.
“Wait.What are you wearing to the faire?”Amy smiled.“I need to know what I should be wearing.”
“Oh, if you want, I can dress you in scary-dog privilege.”
Amy grinned.“It will shift with me?”
“Of course.”Vaia grinned.“That is what I do.”
“Wait.What am I defending?”
Vaia winced, beckoned her to the back, and showed her a cascade of glittering beadwork.Amy gasped at the markings woven into the glittering costume.“Oh, that is what you do.”
“Yeah.Let something out, let something in, turn it into creative energy.You know how my family works.It’s this or having kids.”
“Oh.Right.What about your...significant other?”
“Radio silence.He agreed to stay away, so I get to do what I want—” Vaia shrugged, “—until he shows up, but I am crossing my fingers that something happens in the next few weeks.It should split us for good.”
“What?”
“It’s a mage-familiar thing.”
“Oh.Oh shit.”Amy looked at her friend and seamstress and finally understood something she hadn’t before.They had known each other for six years, and Vaia had always been the same steady, powerful artist.Knowing that she had a familiar was strange.“How long have you had a familiar?”
Vaia looked away from the dance costume.“Oh, I am the familiar.It’s been nearly ten years since he needed me at all, so I can begin severing our connection.”
“Does he know about that?”
“No, but if he hasn’t drawn on me, he won’t really miss me.I keep track of him.He’s doing fine without me.”She snorted.“Really fine.”
“How fine?”
“He’s on tour.He’s very popular.”
“Oh.He’s a performer.”
